Merry Christmas Tad

Tad leaves a life of legacy that gives our family and his friends strength, hope and pride. Lauren said it best in Tad's blog about how many tears shed over his lost. Not having Tad around is still tough to say the least. I sometimes wonder how many times many of us have driven around malls, or school parking lots, around street blocks before meeting clients, students, teachers, going to farm or grocery stores in order to wipe tears, gain back our composer so we can carry on our purposes in mind that day. On some days, it's a mustard seed of faith that helps me move the mountain of loneiness and depair not having Tad with us.
Dec. 11, Tad's 35th birthday, our family traveled to Colorado to a place Tad loved to ski and have fun. Lauren took care of the logistics of getting great deals to help on expensives. Turi and I drove our Subaran and met Santo, Amy, Isa, and Ginnia at the air port. Santo drove us to our mountain home provided by my cousin Joyce and husband Jerry. They were so gracious for giving us a wonderful place to relax and have fun. A fun and big home, Isa and I counted 115 light switchs for math exercises our first evening.
Roy, one of Tad's best friends, came one evening and bless us with words about Tad. A neat three days of fun.
Some after Tad's funeral, Turi and I stored all the sympathy cards in a paper sack and decided to do something about them. We choose to pick a card randonly each night before bed, read it out loud, then pray for that person or couple who sent it. We prayed that God would bless their lives, and gave thanks to God for what they have done in our lives. This has been a tremendeous sense of peace for us and we look forward to this occasion each night. Isa and Ginnia like doing this too when they are with us. It's been nearly 8 months from Tad's passing and we are almost through the cards.
Now we are thinking of finding a tombstone that will give each one who visits Tad's grave site a sense of peace and happiness. We will a picture of Tad, a mountain scene, and a saying that will help keep Tad's legacy alive for our family, especially for Uncle Tad's neice and nephew.
Tad was one heck of a guy, brother and son. His journeys span the globe. His journels of those experiences enlighten readers to how good and wonderful this earth we call home is.
Tad brought to our home some wonderful and loving people. One very special person is a gal named Lauren. She is pretty, witty, smart and silly with a heart of gold. We still love when she calls our son, Taaad. Amy and Lauren keep in touch faithfully and we have fun hearing from her too.
PT, Backroads, REI, friends, of Tad, you did all you could to help make Tad's life meaningful and productive. Our family says thanks. Scott aka, Stewy, we can not thank you enough for helping in those tough times.
We live on with Tad's goals in mind very day---make people happpy, have them feel good about themselves, let people leave your presense with a sense of peace, a sense of love, and sense of happiness and above all, don't mess with coffee, put Mayo on everything you eat.
For our gift to you this day of Christmas, Turi and I ask each one of you to reach for your Bible, turn to verses that Tad marked in green, Isaiah, 40, verses 28 through 31. I hope this will set into your minds what Tad wanted us to believe, what gave Tad that relentless drive to accomplish what he did, and what love does for poeple who puts their hope and trust in Jesus Christ, no matter what sickness, disease, or failures comes your way. It's true, it works.
Merry Christmas Tad, Merry Christmas to all of you.

I leave you with Tad's legacy- peace, love, happiness.

Love,

Tad's Mom and Dad
Proverbs: 3: 3-6

Birthdays Will Always Be Remembered

December 11, 2010 - Tad, we celebrate you, your zest for life and your adventurous spirit. Today has been a day of firsts as many have been without you with us. It was a birthday not celebrated with"coconut cream pie", it was a family gathering with the honored member missing, it was a day with as many laughs as there were tears...however, your strength, courage and character will forever live within us. I may have lost you, but I have gained a family I couldn't imagine living without.

You'd be so proud as Isa and Gianni learned to ski and board today, Amy and Santo showed promise of dynamic anticipation as they glided down the mountain, Mama and Papa sowed their wild oats tubing, and I...I managed to get buried in about 3 ft of fresh powder:)

Though you touched the lives of many - you lived for your family, your friends, and for me and that is an honor only few know.

I hope that you have found PEACE, you know that you were LOVEd, and all those that you've touched find their HAPPINESS - Lauren